(S04E01) I'm tempted to say that Hell's Kitchen has jumped the shark, or whatever the culinary equivalent of jumping the shark would be (jumping the oven? burning the dinner?), but then I got to thinking: the prize for this show is pretty big. The winner not only gets $250,000, they also get to be the executive chef at one of Gordon Ramsay's own restaurants, the new London L.A. opening in Los Angeles later this year. So maybe all of the intense cooking action and swearing and degrading put downs uttered by Ramsay actually serve a purpose.
That doesn't, however, mean that the show isn't guilty of some severe reality show badness.
Whenever you get to the fourth season of a reality show, you have to up the ante a bit, and this season we not only see more contestants (15), there are also more contestants with cooking experience. They seem to be going the same route American Idol did this season, getting some contestants that aren't exactly amateurs. In fact, I think I count only one person who doesn't have cooking/chef experience and that's Dominic, and even he is a stay-at-home dad and probably cooks a lot.
Ramsay's swearing seems to be upped this year too. I don't doubt at all that Ramsay is sort of a rough character (though infinitely nicer than he appears to be on this show), but now it seems like he's swearing because that's what his "character" does. It's the main draw of the show, really. The contestants screw up, Ramsay swears and throws something across the kitchen, and the kitchen is closed.
Oh, and we have quite the cast this season. Besides Dominic, we have Bobby, who refers to himself as "the black Gordon Ramsay" (so you know Ramsay is going to love him, ahem) and a "four-star General and Executive Chef"; Vanessa, who probably isn't quite as good in the kitchen as she thinks; Jason, the trash-talker who thinks he's God's gift to women; Jen, who contestant Sharon refers to as "a Barbie doll" because of her blond hair, make-up, and boobs; and...well, all of the reality show sterotypes are here. The braggarts, the whiners, etc, etc, etc.
There is one funny moment in this premiere. In a twist, Ramsay disguises himself as one of the contestants (looking a little bit like Howard Stern) and infiltrates the group as they come to the restaurant on a bus. He gets to listen to what the contestants say about him, though no one says anything too bad (except for Bobby's "I'm the black Gordon Ramsay" remark). At first I thought this was stupid and outlandish, but the makeup job was so ridiculous that he actually did look like someone who would be on a reality show, and the contestants had no idea it was Ramsay.
One segment that didn't ring exactly true to me was the opening task, where the cooks have to make their "signature dish" (if they even have one) for Ramsay so he can see what type of cook they are. He hated most of the dishes, of course (they were bland, too raw, and I think he even called one dish "a piece of shit"), but there was one dish that actually made him vomit a few times. Now, the dish did sound truly gross (scallops, caviar, steak tartare and...white chocolate), but it actually made him throw up a few times? Hmmm...
My favorite dish had to be Petrozza's. He admits he doesn't have a signature dish, so he makes...Hen in a Pumpkin! It's a cornish game hen shoved into a pumpkin. The potatoes on the outside are so greasy they look like slimy worms, and he has to take the entire pumpkin apart just to serve the meal to Ramsay.
The first night the restaurant is open (which seems a little rushed, considering they've only been in the game for one day) the men's team can't even remember what the entrees are, while the women know them by heart. This is not a good start for the men, and it doesn't get any better from there. Jason actually goes outside to smoke a cigarette and everyone wonders where he went, Dominic stumbles around like a lost puppy holding scallops in his hand, and the risotto comes out terrible (that's a recurring theme on Hell's Kitchen I think, bad risotto). At one point, Ramsay tells mohawked Louross that he's "running around like a toilet brush," which I don't think makes a lot of sense but is a line I'm going to use anyway.
But at one point Louross actually takes control of the kitchen, which is something team captain Bobby can't do, or won't do. He keeps telling the team he doesn't want to "get in the middle" of what they're doing. He also at one point says that he's "ready to roll, va, va, vi, vi, va, va, vi, va." I think I got that order correct. Ramsay is impressed by how Louross took control and has him nominate two men for elimination. He chooses Bobby and Dominic.
And who is the first to go this season? It's Dominic, the only contestant who doesn't have cooking experience. This is a shame, because I always like to see what the non-pros can do later in the competition against the pros. But this show is looking for someone to take over a restaurant, so Dom was probably doomed from the start.
Next week: more swearing and throwing of food!
The Upfronts: FOX
Carter Bays of How I Met Your Mother: The TV Squad Interview
The Upfronts: CBS
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-02-2008 @ 8:35AM
mj said...
Obviously you don't know many chefs. This is exactly how they are, loud and grumpy. Gordon IS a nice guy, but he has high expectations of how a kitchen should be run. His kitchens are spotless, and run well. (Yes, I watch all his shows on BBCA.) These people come in, cocky, and sure they are great. Gordon teaches them that they aren't. Yes, the pressure is on, even in the first dinner service. If they were working in a restaurant, they would be expected to perform well. This is the best reality show out there, and the only one I watch.
Reply
4-02-2008 @ 1:26PM
kevjohn said...
Ditto to everything you've said here. Thank you for saving me from having to type all that out.
4-02-2008 @ 8:47AM
Alicia said...
My Husband is a professional chef and he says that yea, Hell's Kitchen may be a little over the top, but that is the way it is.
When he was a line jock, or in expo he had to really watch his mouth esp. if they had an open kitchen.
And our children know that those are "Daddy's work words" because sometimes when he gets home he still has "kitchen mouth".
Reply
4-02-2008 @ 10:06AM
h8rain said...
"Kitchen Mouth" - Epic! :P
4-02-2008 @ 8:50AM
kash said...
i think the toilet bowl brush comment was in reference to his mohawk
Reply
4-02-2008 @ 10:12AM
Mimi said...
Gordon's 'potty mouth' is just who he is - for the many years that I have viewed programmes that he is on or are about him, that language is as natural to him as breathing. I think that is the one thing about him that isn't an act. I think that he doesn't hold back and comparatively Americans are taken aback by his rudeness and upfront nature.
As for the vomiting - that is something that I have seen Ramsay do many times. If you think about it, he has the right idea. You don't want to swallow something that is improperly cooked or something dodgy. Sometimes there are dishes that just cause a spontaneous reaction and make you chuck them up - good thing there was a bin to catch it right there!!
Anyway, Gordon is a perfectionist - that is how he won his Michelin stars. He expects the best and that is how it is most kitchens as well. I think that of course the show has bits that are way over the top, but for the most part it is entertaining and I enjoy watching it. I like Gordon because he is off colour and he makes me laugh with his arrogance. On the whole though, I do think he is a nice fellow in 'real life' but you can't mix business with personal.
Reply
4-02-2008 @ 10:29AM
Whitecat said...
Bob, with all due respect, I don't know why you are the person who is writing about this show. Obviously, you are not a fan. I've watched it every year and love this show. Your negative review will hopefully not set the course for all the messages to be negative.
Reply
4-02-2008 @ 10:40AM
Tristan said...
It was interesting for my first time watching hell's kitchen 9luckily it came on after american idol) I think I might tune in for more since non of the entrees were masde since people walked out.
Reply
4-02-2008 @ 11:04AM
fc2grimm said...
I absolutely love this show! But is it me, or is this group the worst bunch of cooks the show has ever had. In the past three season you could usually pick out one or two who might know what they are doing and would be able to run a kitchen. I don't think any one of these "chefs" has a clue or should run a kitchen. That being said, it should make for an interesting season.
Reply
4-02-2008 @ 11:14AM
Joe D said...
Every year watching this show, I am always amazed when they show the off-shift stuff and I see that almost every single contestant on the show smokes. No wonder they can never season the risotto properly, they cannot taste it!
I would say over the 3 seasons plus the first episode of season 4, I have seen 95% of the chefs smoke. Is this common in the restaurant world?
Reply
4-02-2008 @ 11:19AM
dana said...
Jason and Bobby were the worst, but Jason was safe as they had the moment where the two of them talk about how they're both the weak links. It HAD to be Bobby as he was about as useful as a bucket of paint in that kitchen and TRULY deserved to be tossed, but since he and Jason were SHOWN talking about it, they had to toss a twist in, and that left Dominic who WAS just staggering around doing nothing.
Bobby is Omarosa. He's unrepentant, will find a way to spin his own failures and will never stop telling everyone within earshot how amazing he is. He's going to be around till around the top 6 or so, just cause we need SOMEONE to hate with all our souls.
On the good side, Louross, who at first appeared to be a fussy lil bitch, turned into a competent thinker under fire. And I actually liked the lyrical thing he did in the confessional. I'd like to hang out with him. I expect he's gay, yet he's also kind of a real man. Rosann is competent. I doubt she'll win, as she'll crack at a big moment late in the show, but someone should hire her and cultivate her into a badass executive. Vanessa seems to have raw talent. She needs to put in time under a serious chef, and she'd turn into one of the best.
The women are basically an unknown quantity thus far. Only Rosann, Jennifer and Vanessa got any serious exposure, and all three due to their relative competence. As for the men, Craig, matt and Ben have yet to show their ability. Craig's a braggart and has issues. Doesn't mean he might NOT be a good chef though.
Hope it's a good season.
Reply
4-02-2008 @ 11:48AM
Malren said...
Anyone gonna mention that *no one* has actually received their prize for winning this show yet? I love Gordon's food philosophy, and respect his skill in a kitchen, but he's part of a reality sham here.
Seriously. To date no one has received the prize they "won."
Reply
4-02-2008 @ 2:22PM
EbonyDad said...
Actually, the previous season winner "Rock" actually did become the head chef at the restaurant in LV like the show said he would be.
Now, he is not the Executive Chef, but last season never promised him that. I am sure he is getting paid whatever the show promised him.
As for the two previous seasons, yes, the contestants didn't win the "prize" they were supposed to. (I wouldn't blame Fox for Season 1 where the contestant decided to move back to the US after a couple of months and start his own kitchenware company.)
4-02-2008 @ 2:33PM
Brent McKee said...
The only one who didn't get the prize promised was season 1 winner Michael and that was because he accepted Ramsay's offer to work at one of Ramsay's London restaurants, an offer that Michael later reneged on. Heather worked as senior chef at Terra Rossa at the Red Rocks resort on a one year contract, which was exactly what the agreement with the show was. Rock is currently the head chef at Terra Verde at the Green Valley Ranch resort. Sounds like he got his prize too.
4-02-2008 @ 2:08PM
Tim Mahoney said...
Malren,
Who exactly didn't get their prize? As far as I'm aware all three chef's are working in their restaurants. in fact, Chef Ramsay took some of the contestants last year to Heather's restaurant. Michael's restaurant has been featured as well. Rock has just won, so he might not have opened yet. Also, all three past winners will be on later in the season as guest judges.
Get yer facts straight before you post.
Reply
4-02-2008 @ 2:36PM
Brent McKee said...
As for who should have gone, that would be Jason for one simple reason: he wasn't at work when the restaurant opened, he was out in the smoking area kicking back. Just try doing that anywhere; then try doing it when Gordon Ramsay is your boss - he'd rip your lungs out through your sphincter.
Reply
4-02-2008 @ 3:17PM
Dawn said...
If you want to watch a good cooking show, watch Top Chef on Bravo. Much better show.
Reply
4-02-2008 @ 9:36PM
GL said...
I like them both. Two totally different types of shows.
4-02-2008 @ 9:40PM
Jen said...
Not sure if anyone else noticed, when Jason was outside smoking, he was picking his toes! I really really really hope he ran in and washed his hands. Sick sick sick.
Reply